Producing visual images

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a method for reproducing an integral, panoramogramic or full spatial image for viewing using a decoding screen as a 3-D picture comprising representing the image as an array of image points with a density corresponding to high resolution ink printing.

[0001] This invention relates to producing visual images.

[0002] The production, from a continuous parallax view of multiviewimage, of integral or panoramogramic images for viewing using a decodingscreen as 3-D pictures is well-known. A photographic image can bereproduced photographically to provide multiple such images. The need,as hitherto perceived, to reproduce the images photographically hasimposed restrictions on the use of such images.

[0003] The present invention provides a method by which such images maybe reproduced which removes such restrictions.

[0004] The invention comprises a method for reproducing an integral orpanoraragramic image for viewing using a decoding screen as a 3-Dpicture comprising printing the image using a high resolution inkprinting technique.

[0005] Hitherto it has been thought—generally speaking quitecorrectly—that printing by any of the conventional printing techniqueswould lose so much of the parallax information in an integral orpanoramagramic image that the image, even when viewed using a decodingscreen, would be poor and not recognisably 3-D. It is now found,however, that high resolution printing techniques preserve the parallaxinformation so as to give very, good 3-D pictures.

[0006] The printing technique may be a relief printing technique such asgravure printing and may be a frequency modulated technique, in whichthe dots are not regularly spaced but spaced more or less closelyaccording to the print density required, or an amplitude modulatedtechnique in which the dots are regularly spaced but vary in size.

[0007] The printing technique may be a half tone printing technique, andmay be a screen printing technique.

[0008] For off-the-page viewing, a resolution of 40 screen lines/cm orhigher is found to give very good results. Parallax information can beretained at greater screen pitches. The screen pitch will depend also onthe lenticular/microlens pitch that produced the original image. Anintegral number of addressable points may be located behind eachmicrolens, but it is not essential.

[0009] The printing technique may be a colour printing technique.

[0010] The invention also comprises a print produced by a methodaccording to the invention, as well as such a print in combination witha decoding screen. The decoding screen may be attached to the print, andmay be applied to the print by an embossing technique.

[0011] The image points may, however, comprise pixels on an active imagescreen such as an lcd or crt screen or any other electronicallyaddressed display system.

[0012] Surprisingly, the resolution of the image may be less than 400dots or pixels per cm, and may be as low as 32 dots or pixels per cm.Put another way, the resolution of the image may be of the order of1,000 dots or pixels per square cm, good results being obtained with aresolution between 2,000-5,000 dots per square cm. The figure is relatedto the decoding screen pitch. The figure of 32 dots or pixels per cm issuitable for 0.6 mm pitch microlenses.

[0013] The image point spacing—the dot or pixel spacing—may be more thanhalf that of the decoding screen lens spacing—this is also surprising,as it means there can be less than two pixels per microlens.

[0014] The image points may comprise a computer generated amplitudedistribution, which may be generated ab initio by computer software, orit might be generated by computer software manipulation of threedimensional information derived from imaging a real scene. Whilst thiscan clearly be photographic imaging, the real scene is not necessarilyimaged in visible radiation but may be imaged by radar, for example, orx-rays, magnetic resonance, ultrasound or any other imaging techniquecapable of providing three-dimensional image data whether in a singletake or tomographically.

[0015] Two or more amplitude distributions generated by the same or bydifferent means—e.g. one photographically, one by computer software, maybe sectionalised and/or manipulated and mixed in spatial form.

[0016] The displayed images may be a still or a moving image—a movingimage may be mixed with a still image.

[0017] The invention also comprises apparatus for producing an integralpanoramagramic image comprising an image represented as an array ofimage points with a density corresponding to high resolution inkprinting and a decoding screen.

[0018] The array of image points may be comprised in a pixel screen, andthe apparatus may comprise an input to the pixel screen of a computergenerated amplitude distribution comprising three dimensional imageinformation.

[0019] The decoding screen may be cylindrical-lenticular or integralmicrolens. Other forms of decoding screen may be used, however, such asa parallax barrier, a two dimensional pinhole array or even a scanningslit. If the amplitude distribution is computer generated, or computermanipulated, there will be no need to limit the decoding arrangement tomatch the image taking arrangement.

[0020] The invention also comprises a full spatial image capturingarrangement comprising:

[0021] a multiple-imaging objective lens system, having an imaging zoneof extended depth corresponding to an object region of extended depth;

[0022] a lensed encoding screen located in said imaging zone forming anencoded image from the imaging zone;

[0023] a copy lens arrangement transferring the encoded image to animage plane; and

[0024] an image recording device for the image in the image plane.

[0025] Multiple-imaging is not to be confused with “multiview”, a termused to describe multiple separate images taken from spaced apart lensesfor eventual assembly into a composite image which gives an impressionof three dimensions in the image, but which is by no means full spatialimaging with continuous parallax. “Multi-imaging” here refers to asynthesised aperture—a wide aperture lens simulated by an assembly ofsmaller lenses.

[0026] Such an arrangement can be used to capture images to bereproduced or displayed using methods and apparatus as above described.

[0027] The multiple-imaging objective lens system may comprise a doubletransmission screen and a convex lens. The double transmission screenmay comprise a double cylindrical lenticular transmission screen or adouble integral microlens screen.

[0028] The multiple-imaging objective lens system may, however, comprisea segmented convex lens.

[0029] The lensed encoding screen may comprise a cylindrical lenticularscreen or an integral microlens screen.

[0030] The image recording arrangement may comprise a photographicemulsion (where reproduction is intended to be e.g. by printing,especially) or a charge coupled device array or other electronicallyaddressable array of sensitive elements.

[0031] Embodiments of apparatus for producing an integral panoramogramicor full spatial image and methods therefore and embodiments of fullspatial image capturing arrangements according to the invention will nowbe described with reference to the accompany drawings, in which:

[0032]FIG. 1 shows a printing process for reproducing images,

[0033]FIG. 2 shows a colour separation screen alignment scheme,applicable to both printing and active e.g. video screen display,

[0034]FIG. 3 shows frequency modulated printing,

[0035]FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of an arrangement fordisplaying full spatial images using a pixel screen,

[0036]FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of another arrangement fordisplaying full spatial images using a pixel screen,

[0037]FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of another arrangement forprinting full spatial images,

[0038]FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of an image capturingarrangement,

[0039]FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of a variant of thearrangement of FIG. 7,

[0040]FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of another image capturingarrangement,

[0041]FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of another image capturingarrangement,

[0042]FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of yet another imagecapturing arrangement,

[0043]FIG. 12 is a variant of FIG. 1,

[0044]FIG. 13 is a variant of FIG. 12,

[0045]FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic illustration of an image playbackarrangement,

[0046]FIG. 15 is a variant of FIG. 14,

[0047]FIG. 16 is another variant of FIG. 14, and

[0048]FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic illustration of another image playbackarrangement.

[0049] FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings illustrates methods for reproducingan integral or panoramagramic or full spatial image, from e.g. aphotographic image 1 which is a continuous parallax view or a multiviewimage. Such images have hitherto only been reproducedphotographically—standard printing techniques would lose essentialparallax information from the image. The methods comprise printing theimage using a high resolution ink printing technique.

[0050] The image 1 is used to generate high resolution colourseparations 2, for colour printing which may be coloured for makingprints 3 of the image 1. Of course, for monochrome, only one highresolution image need be generated.

[0051] The colour separations 2 comprise four plates, one of eachsubtractive colour cyan, magenta, yellow, as well as black if addedcontrast is required.

[0052] The printing technique may be a relief printing technique such asgravure printing, which can be an amplitude modulated or a frequencymodulated printing technique or other high resolution printing techniquesuch as half tone printing, dye sublimation or thermal was techniques.

[0053] The image may be viewed, depending on how the originalphotographic image was made, using a lenticular decoding screen 8 or aspherical/aspherical lenslet decoding screen 9.

[0054] The high resolution printing technique involves high spatialfrequency scanning which can be achieved using commercial drum or flatbed laser scanners. A low dot density then retains the 3-D informationof the original image.

[0055] Moiré effects can be manifest when the printed image is viewedusing the decoding screen. They may be avoided or minimised by carefulchoice of screen orientations in colour printing. It is found to be veryeffective to separate the orientations by large geometrical angles, andit is more important to secure the maximum geometrical angle betweeneach printing screen alignment and the integral or lenticular decodingscreen than to arrange the maximum separation between each colourscreen.

[0056] A scheme is illustrated in FIG. 2 which shows the disposition ofa lenticular screen with respect to a four separation print, in whichcyan, magenta, yellow and black screen orientations are represented bylines C¹, C² C³, C⁴ and the lens axis of symmetry by C. This arrangementis for square shaped dots D as illustrated. This is a compromise whichachieves a maximum angle between the axis of symmetry and any colourscreen direction but reduces the available angles of separation betweeneach of the four colour screens.

[0057] In this scheme, the minimum geometric angle between thealignments of the colour separates is 15°, while the minimum geometricangle between the lenticular screen axis of symmetry C and any colouralignment is 30°.

[0058] With integral decoding screens, such as square base integralscreens, there are more axes of symmetry, and to achieve maximumseparation between each of these axes of symmetry and the printingscreen alignments, the axis of each of the colour screens needs to bedisplaced from the locations shown in FIG. 2 by an angular(anticlockwise) rotation of 7.5°. Alternatively, the same orientationscan be maintained which gives maximum separation between the verticalaxis of symmetry and the screen angle and the minimum separation betweenthe horizontal axis of symmetry and the screen angle or vice versa.

[0059] Complete suppression of Moiré is achieved by using frequencymodulated screening, in which the dots are arranged randomly. This iseffected as shown in FIG. 3 by dividing each dot area by, say a 12×12grid and randomly placing dots in the grid to achieve the equivalenthalftone density to a single amplitude modulated dot.

[0060] In dye sublimation and thermal wax techniques each block is amixed colour, which will give rise to fewer Moiré problems.

[0061] The decoding screen 8,9 may be placed over the print 3 or acombination of print 3 and decoding screen may be made in which thedecoding screen is itself applied to the print 3 as by a printingtechnique.

[0062] The print 3 or combination may comprise part of a book ormagazine or other publication.

[0063] A decoding screen could be supplied separately to be placed overthe print 3 for viewing. However, where Moiré effects would beencountered with misalignment of decoding screen and print, thepermanently-in-place decoding screen has clear advantages.

[0064] What has been described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 inrelation to ink printing applies equally well, mutatis mutandis to anyarrangement involving an array of image points, in particular a pixelscreen such as a crt or lcd video screen or any other electronicallyaddressable display device. Such a screen or device may, of course, bemonochromatic or colour, the colour separates of the printing processbeing equivalent to the separate colour signals of a colour videoscreen. Equivalent techniques to avoid or minimise Moiré effects areused, namely angling each colour array separately with regard to thealignment of the decoding screen microlenses. For best results, clearly,colour screens will be specially designed with the colour arrays at theappropriate relative angles, but, of course, even with conventionalscreens the Moiré effect can be reduced by appropriate angling of thedecoding screen and Moiré can be eliminated for conventional monochromescreens by such angling.

[0065]FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate apparatus and methods for producingvisual images in which a computer 41 generates an amplitude distributioncomprising three dimensional image information which is displayed on atwo dimensional pixel screen 42 viewed through a decoding screen 43.

[0066] In FIG. 4, the decoding screen 43 is shown as acylindrical-lenticular microlens screen which, given the appropriateamplitude distribution on the pixel screen 42, will give a true parallaxeffect when viewed from different positions right and left in thehorizontal direction of the screen 43 and, because the viewers eyes areseparated in this direction, gives the usual effect of binocular visionof a three dimensional scene comprising accommodation and convergenceworking in unison.

[0067] The decoding screen 43 in Figure a spherical-lenticular,so-called integral microlens screen having a two dimensional array ofspherical microlenses. With an appropriate amplitude distribution on thepixel screen 42, this will form an image which also has true parallaxthrough movement of the viewing position in all directions.

[0068] Whilst these two decoding devices are preferred for brightnessand sharpness of image, other decoding devices such as a two dimensionalpinhole array, a parallax barrier or a scanning slit arrangement couldbe used instead.

[0069] While microlens arrays are usually regular arrays, this is notnecessarily so in the case of the present invention, where the softwarecan manipulate or generate information according to the nature of thedecoding screen.

[0070] It is found, in any event, that the resolution of the pixelscreen 42 can be as low as 32 dots per cm or 1000 dots per square cm fora decoding screen microlens pitch of 0.6 mm and, perhaps even moresurprisingly, that there can be less than two pixels per microlens. Thisalso implies that accurate alignment of a microlens screen with thepixel image is not a requirement if the information can be appropriatelygenerated or manipulated by the software.

[0071] This is a surprisingly low resolution for a system which gives abright, sharp image with true depth. It has clear implications in regardto the ability to handle real-time moving images, so as to make, forexample, three dimensional television possible with little or noincrease in the quantity of information required to be transmitted.

[0072] Whilst, in the drawings, the pixel screen 42 is shown simply as amonochromatic screen, clearly colour information can be dealt with inthe usual way. The pixel screen 42 can of course be a crt screen or anlcd screen or any other electronically addressed display system.Equally, it could be a print generated by the computer 41, as isindicated by the broken line connection between computer 41 and pixelscreen 42 as shown in FIG. 6.

[0073] While the amplitude distribution may be generated ab initio bythe software, as indicated in FIG. 4, it may also be generated bysoftware manipulation of three dimensional image information derivedfrom a real scene, as suggested by the arrangements of FIGS. 5 and 6 inwhich 44 indicates a video camera or other imaging device such, forexample, as an X-ray or ultrasound scanner, a CAT scanner for magneticresonance imaging, all of which can be of considerable interest inmedicine for diagnosis and surgery for displaying an image of anoperation site with true depth perception magnified, with the depthdimension scaled equally with length and breadth.

[0074] Equally, radar information can be converted into a threedimensional visual image.

[0075] More specifically, true three dimensional images may be generatedfrom any computer-generated three dimensional model, which may itself begenerated for example by CAD software, visualisation software, orsimulations systems, or even from a flat photograph or drawing which isprocessed to simulate three dimensions. Thus real-world threedimensional objects, such as buildings, bridges and other macroscopicartefacts or molecular systems, viral structures and other microscopicentities can be displayed as three dimensional images.

[0076] Standard image processing e.g. for noise removal and imageenhancement may be carried out on information sampled from an image of areal-world scene, and images can be mixed, stretched, inverted andotherwise manipulated. Live and computer generated images can be mixed,colours changed, false colour introduced, all on the three dimensionalinformation, to result in a three dimensional image. Such images may beused interactively e.g. in surgery where a surgeon can manipulate anactual “slave” implement by manipulating a “master” implement—which mayitself be solid or projected by mixing into an image of an operationsite a computer generated image.

[0077] In illustrating the apparatus and methods described withreference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, no reference has been made to theelimination or reduction of Moiré as described with reference to theearlier figures, but, of course, such elimination or reduction ispossible by appropriate alignment of colour pixels as already noted.However, depending to some extent on the nature of the images andparticularly the colour content thereof, it would be possible to effectat least some Moiréreduction by computer manipulation of the imagedata—arrays can be selected from the “square” array which are at 45° and22½° to the principal directions of the array and while this adverselyaffects the resolution in those directions the trade-off may beworthwhile.

[0078] FIGS. 7 to 17 illustrate image capturing and playbackarrangements suitable for use with the methods and apparatus abovedescribed and which, together therewith, will form the basis inter aliaof a complete video recording and playback system for full spatialimaging.

[0079] FIGS. 7 to 10 illustrate full spatial image capturingarrangements comprising:

[0080] a multiplying-imaging objective lens system 11 having an imagingzone 12, of extended depth L₁ corresponding to an object region ofextended depth Lo;

[0081] a lensed screen 13 located in said imaging zone 12 forming anencoded image from the imaging zone 12;

[0082] a copy lens arrangement 14 transferring the encoded image to animage plane 15; and

[0083] an image recording device 16 for the image in the image plane 15.

[0084] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the multiplying-imagingobjective lens system 111 comprises a back to back microlens array 117and a convex lens 118. FIG. 8 illustrates an arrangement like that ofFIG. 7 but in which the objective lens system comprises a back-to-backmicrolens array 117 of unequal pitches, P₁, P₂, with no convex lens 118.FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment in which the multiplying-imagingobjective lens system comprises a macrolens array 121—microlens array122—macrolens array 123 combination. In each case, the microlens array117, 122 comprises a double transmission screen which may compriseeither a double integral screen or a double lenticular screen, theformer having spherical microlenses, the latter having cylindricallenses, the cylinders being aligned vertically.

[0085]FIG. 10 illustrates an arrangement in which themultiplying-imaging objective lens system comprises a segmented lens131—the inset to this figure shows a sixteen-element segmented lens 131in which the segments 132 have principal axes 133 offset from theircentres 134 by amounts proportional to the distances of the centres 134from the principal axis 135 of the lens 131 as a whole.

[0086] The lensed screen 113 located in the imaging zone 112 is anintegral or a lenticular screen.

[0087] Associated with the lensed screen 113 is a field lens 119, whichensures an even illumination of the image plane as seen by the copy lens114, which transfers the encoded image from the screen 113 to the imageplane 115 and the recording device 116, which can comprise aphotographic emulsion or a ccd array.

[0088] The copy lens 114 is selected to control the image magnificationat the image plane 115.

[0089] In a typical arrangement using the macrolens—microlens—macrolensarray of FIG. 9, the input macrolens array has a focal length of 80 mmat F No. 1.5 or 2, the microlens array is a double integral screen ofpitch 90 μm with the same F No. as the macrolens, and the outputmacrolens array is the same as the input array.

[0090] The image plane 115 microlens screen (where required) can have apitch according to the image size or the required image depth—say from100 μm to 500 μm. It will have the same F No. as the screen 113.

[0091]FIG. 11 illustrates image capture on to a photographic emulsionwhich is overlayed with an integral microlens screen 151 or which has afront surface embossed so as to form such a screen 151. The “taking”lens is the back-to-back double integral screen 117 of FIG. 7, togetherwith the convex lens. FIG. 12 shows an arrangement in which themacrolens array—microlens array—macrolens array 121, 122, 123 of FIG. 9is substituted for the double integral screen 117, and FIG. 13 shows asegmented lens arrangement 121, 122, 131 as shown in FIG. 10 used as thetaking lens.

[0092]FIG. 14 illustrates a projection of playback arrangements forplaying back images' captured by the arrangements of FIGS. 7 to 13comprising a projector 141 in which the captured image is illuminatedand cast via a copy lens 114 on to a double integral screen 142 toreconstruct a three-dimensional image, via microlens screen 143 and amagnifying arrangement 144. The magnifying arrangement comprises abacks-to-back microlens array 117 and convex lens 118, as used in FIG.7, for reproducing images made by the arrangement of FIG. 7.

[0093]FIG. 15 illustrates a similar arrangement, but in which themicrolens array 117 and convex lens 118 are replaced by a macrolensarray—microlens array—macrolens array arrangement 121, 122, 133, as usedin the arrangement of FIG. 9, and appropriate for reproducing imagesmade by that arrangement.

[0094]FIG. 16 illustrates a similar arrangement, but the array 123 beingreplaced by segmented lens arrangement 131 as shown in FIG. 10, andappropriate for reproducing images made by that arrangement.

[0095] These arrangements are essentially the reverse of theimage-capturing arrangements of FIGS. 7 to 13, in which, indeed, if animage were projected from image plane 115, a three-dimensional imagewould be seen corresponding to the subject, with the use of a doubleintegral recording screen.

[0096] The projector 141 can of course be a slide or cine projector,with back illumination, or it can comprise a video screen in the case ofa ccd array image capture.

[0097] A field lens 145, as before, can be associated with the screen143.

[0098]FIG. 17 illustrates a playback arrangement for the embossed oroverlayed microlens-on-emulsion images formed by the various embodimentsillustrated in FIGS. 11 to 13. The projector 141 casts the image on tothe double integral screen 141 via the macrolens array-microlensarray-macrolens array 144 and convex lens 118 of FIG. 12 or, in variantsvia the back to back microlens array 117 and convex lens 18 of FIG. 11.or via the segmented lens arrangement of FIG. 13, depending on whicharrangement was used to capture the image.

[0099] The projector 141 may include an integral field lens between thelamp and the emulsion.

1. A method for reproducing an integral, panoramograric or full spatialimage for viewing using a decoding screen as a 3-D picture comprisingrepresenting the image as an array of image points with a densitycorresponding to high resolution ink printing.
 2. A method according toclaim 1, comprising printing the image using a high resolution inkprinting technique.
 3. A method according to claim 2, in which theprinting technique is a relief printing technique.
 4. A method accordingto claim 3, in which the printing technique is a gravure printingtechnique.
 5. A method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, in whichthe printing technique is a frequency modulated printing technique.
 6. Amethod according to any one of claims 2 to 4, in which the printingtechnique is an amplitude modulated printing technique.
 7. A methodaccording to claim 6, in which the printing technique is a half-toneprinting technique.
 8. A method according to claim 2, in which theprinting technique is a screen printing technique.
 9. A method accordingto any one of claims 2 to 8, in which the printing technique is a colourprinting technique.
 10. A print made by a method according to any one ofclaims 2 to
 9. 11. A print according to claim 10, together with adecoding screen.
 12. A print according to claim 11, in which thedecoding screen is attached thereto.
 13. A print according to claim 12,in which the decoding screen is applied using a printing technique. 14.A method according to claim 1, in which the image points comprise pixelson an active image screen such as an lcd or crt screen.
 15. A methodaccording to any one of claims 1 to 4 and 14, in which the resolution ofthe image is less than 400 dots per cm.
 16. A method according to claim15, in which the resolution of the image is as low as 32 dots per cm.17. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and 14 to 16, inwhich the resolution of the image is of the order of 1000 dots persquare cm.
 18. A method according to claim 17, in which the resolutionof the image is between 2000 and 5000 dots per square cm.
 19. A methodaccording to any one of claims 1 to 9 and 14 to 18, in which the imagepoint spacing is more than half that of the decoding screen lensspacing.
 20. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and 14 to19, in which Moiré effects are reduced or eliminated by choice oforientation of the image point array and the decoding screen lensletarray.
 21. A method according to claim 20, in which a colour image isproduced from colour separation images which are orientated differentlywith respect to the decoding screen lenslet array.
 22. A methodaccording to claim 21, in which the minimum geometric angle between thealignments of the colour separation images is 15° and the minimumalignment between any colour separation image and the decoding screenlenslet array is 30°.
 22. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 9and 14 to 22, in which the decoding screen is a lenticular screen.
 23. Amethod according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and 14 to 22, in which thedecoding screen is a lenticular screen.
 24. A method according to anyone of claims 1 to 9 and 14 to 22, in which the decoding screen isintegral screen.
 25. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and14 to 24, in which the image points comprise a computer generatedamplitude distribution.
 26. A method according into claim 25, in whichthe amplitude distribution is generated ab initio by computer software.27. A method according to claim 25, in which the amplitude distributionis generated by computer manipulation of three dimensional imageinformation derived from imaging a real scene.
 28. A method according toclaim 27, in which the imaging is photographic.
 29. A method accordingto claim 27, in which image is by radar.
 30. A method according to claim27, in which the image is by X-rays.
 31. A method according to claim 27,in which the imaging is by magnetic resonance.
 32. A method according toclaim 27, in which the imaging is by ultrasound.
 33. A method accordingto any one of claims 28 to 32, in which the imaging technique is atomographic technique.
 34. A method according to any one of claims 25 to33, in which two or more amplitude disitributions generated by the sameor by different means are sectionalised and/or manipulated and mixed inspatial form.
 35. A method according to any one of claims 1 and 14 to34, in which the image is a moving image.
 36. A method according toclaim 26, in which the moving image is mixed with a still image. 37.Apparatus for producing an integral, panoramogramic image comprising anencoded image represented as an array of image points with a densitycorresponding to high resolution ink printing and a decoding screen. 38.Apparatus accordign to claim 37, in which the array of image points iscomprised in a pixel screen.
 39. Apparatus according to claim 38,comprising an input to the pixel screen of a computer-generatedamplitude distribution comprising three dimensional image information.40. Apparatus according to any one of claims 37 to 39, in which thedecoding screen is cylindrical-lenticular.
 41. Apparatus according toany one of claims 37 to 39, in which the decoding screen is integralmicrolens.
 42. Apparatus according to claim 41, in which there are lessthan two image points per microlens.
 43. A full spatial image capturingarrangement comprising: a multiple-imaging objective lens system, havingan imaging zone of extended depth corresponding to an object region ofextended depth; a lensed encoding screen located in said imaging zoneforming an encoded image from the imaging zone; a copy lens arrangementtransferring the encoded image to an image plane; and an image recordingdevice for the image in the image plane.
 44. An arrangement according toclaim 42, in which the multiple-imaging objective lens system comprisesa double transmission screen and a convex lens.
 45. All arrangementaccording to claim 44, in which the double transmission screen comprisesa double cylindrical lenticular transmission screen.
 46. An arrangementaccording to claim 44, in which the double transmission screen comprisesa double integral microlens screen.
 47. An arrangement according toclaim 43, in which the multiple-imaging objective lens system comprisesa segmented convex lens.
 48. An arrangement according to any one ofclaims 43 to 47, in which the lensed encoding screen comprises acylindrical-lenticular screen.
 49. An arrangement according to any oneof claims 43 to 47, in which the lensed encoding screen comprises anintegral microlens screen.
 50. An arrangement according to any one ofclaims 43 to 49, in which the copy lens arrangement comprises a convexlens pair.
 51. An arrangement according to any one of claims 43 to 50,in which the image recording arrangement comprises a photographicemulsion.
 52. An arrangement according to any one of claims 43 to 50, inwhich the image recording arrangement comprises a charge coupled devicearray or other electronically addressable array of sensitive elements.